Two participants stood at the bottom of each flight of stairs, representing the last set of matches before the top ten were determined.
Jin He vs. Unseen Light. Wen Sansi vs. Wang Yi. Skinny Bro vs. Zhi Yi. Liquor Hero vs. Bai Mai. Shang Qing vs. Qiu Shi. Liu Tianmu vs. Lu Yin. Yao Xuan vs. Yōu Ye’er. Ling Gong vs. Xia Jiuyou. Yōu Qi vs. Wu Taibai. Xiao Qing vs. Bu Kong.
There were ten flights of stairs, which represented ten battles. The winners of each match would earn the glory of entering the top ten of ZENITH.
The audience had originally expected the next ten battles to be conducted consecutively like the previous round. However, the barriers of light at the bottom of the stairs disappeared at the same time, and everyone was shocked to see that all ten flights of stairs were now accessible. Everyone would be allowed to proceed up the steps at the same time, which meant that these ten battles would occur simultaneously.
Instantaneously, the screen in the sky separated into ten different screens in order to display all ten matches at the same time.
After an unknown amount of time, the barriers at the bottom of all ten flights of stairs disappeared, signaling that the path to the peak of Zenith Mountain had been opened. The participants could choose to climb up the stairs right away, or they could wait for a day, two days, three days, or even more. During the previous battles, no one had been able to do anything when Wang Yi and Li Zimo had waited multiple days before actually making a move. Thus, the current competitors would be even more entitled to taking their time.
From where he stood at the bottom of the stairs, Lu Yin lifted his head, and his eyes traced through the length of the stairs before him. Since all the stairs were accessible at the same time, then did the organizers want to speed up the contest to determine the ten finalists?
If Lu Yin’s guess was correct, then the top ten might not be determined as straightforwardly as people expected. Matters might not be as simple as reaching the peak of the mountain.
This thought caused Lu Yin to subconsciously look over at Qiu Shi, only to see her indifferent expression. She did not even glance at the stairs.
At this moment, one of the ten screens up in the sky projecting the battles had already started projecting the scenes of a fight. Yōu Ye’er made the first move, and she had trapped Yao Xuan within her Encompassing Lockdown Array. Then, blood-red lotus flowers bloomed beneath her feet as she raised a hand, causing the flower’s intangible shadows to shoot through the void, straight at Yao Xuan.
With Yao Xuan as her opponent, Yōu Ye’er immediately unleashed her strongest attack. She only had one shot. Her spiritual force, which even she knew was mediocre at best, would not be able to defend her from Yao Xuan’s abilities. Earlier on, Yao Xuan’s howl had nearly caused her to cough up blood.
This was the first showdown in the stair-climbing round, and it caught the entire audience’s attention.
Even Lu Yin was closely watching the two.
Even though he was trapped within the Encompassing Lockdown Array, Yao Xuan was not at all concerned about Yōu Ye’er. Choosing to fight him even when his spiritual force had not fully recharged was still seeking death, as he could attack with his body’s intangible form.
However, as the shadows of the Heart-killer Lotus drew closer, Yao Xuan suddenly felt his heart skip a beat. He instinctively dispersed his body into palm-sized celestial monsters that flew apart in random directions.
The shadows of the blood-red lotuses lost their target and vanished the very next instant.
Yōu Ye’er was utterly disappointed, as her attempt had failed.
The large group of palm-sized celestial monsters gradually drew back together and reformed into Yao Xuan. He had an upset look, as he had not expected Yōu Ye’er to be able to force him to shift out of his original form. His body was an embodiment of spiritual force itself, so reasonably speaking, he should not have felt threatened by her attack.
Although the Heart-killer Lotus’s shadows had vanished, Yao Xuan did not notice that the blood-colored strings remained in the air and that they were dissipating very slowly.
As his body reformed, the celestial monsters also brought those blood-colored strings along as they merged into his body.
No one noticed this matter, aside from some people like Lu Yin and God Taiyi who had cultivated Truesight. They were able to see some foreign runes being incorporated into Yao Xuan’s body.
Yao Xuan’s spiritual force surged, just like when he had faced off against Xin Nü. It only took his howl one moment to envelop all of ZENITH mountain and immediately destroy the Encompassing Lockdown Array. Then, its full offensive might fell down upon Yōu Ye’er.
You You’er grew pale. She gritted her teeth as blood flowed from her ears. She was desperately trying to stop herself from passing out due to the vertigo assaulting her. Then, a wave of her hand caused Yao Xuan’s expression to change to shock. A rosy, bloody color began to cover his body. This color did not come from his own blood, as his body held no blood, only spiritual force. Rather, the rosy color of his skin was due to the numerous microscopic crimson lotus flowers that were currently blooming within his body.
The blood-colored strings that had fused with Yao Xuan had become crimson lotus flowers that were now erupting from his body. Although he was not killed in one shot like Bai Ling, Yao Xuan was suffering terrible damage to his spiritual force that forced him to retreat a hundred meters.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yōu Ye’er set up the Encompassing Lockdown Array once more. She then raised a hand, materializing a sword of star energy that she used to slash at Yao Xuan.
Yao Xuan was completely enraged. He could not accept that she had managed to injure him. What’s more, this was the first time that he had ever been injured. His eyes focused on the sight of You Ye’er accelerating towards him, the tip of her blade just about to pierce him.
“You’re asking to die!” As he spoke, Yao Xuan’s pupils constricted to pinpoints. A soundless, invisible energy began warping the void, causing the air itself to seem to be bursting at the seams. The impact of this attack sent Yōu Ye’er flying.
She spit out blood while still in mid air, and all traces of blood faded from her body as she fell from the top of the mountain and landed at its foot. Her broken figure looked extremely tragic.
In the Innerverse, Yōu clan felt bewildered as they all stared intensely at the base of Zenith Mountain where Yōu Ye’er had fallen while Madam Yōu’s face went as white as a ghost. Yōu Ye’er’s power far surpassed that of any other clan inheritor throughout the Yōu clan’s entire history, and she alone had already surpassed the value of what her marriage would bring to the clan. She couldn’t die!
Everyone had witnessed Yōu Ye’er’s power, but Yao Xuan’s strength was far more frightening. There was practically no way to counter his ability since his spiritual force was invincible.
Yōu Ye’er’s defeat meant that the first contestant to enter the top ten had appeared. It was Yao Xuan, the crown prince of the Celestial Beast Empire.
Yao Xuan’s victory had not been as effortless as what people saw it to be. Those blood-red lotuses had actually damaged him quite badly and caused him to grow wary. Yōu Ye’er had actually managed to injure him, and her battle technique had deeply disturbed him. He had truly wanted to kill her, so regardless of the consequences, it would be worth it as long as she was dead.
Although Yao Xuan had fought countless battles in the Human Domain for many years, he had never encountered a battle technique as disturbing as Yōu Ye’er’s. Just who had created it?
The fight between Yao Xuan and You Ye’er might have felt short, but another battle had actually finished even more quickly. It was the battle between the Greenmen Duo’s Skinny Bro and Zhi Yi.
The moment the barriers blocking the ten flights of stairs had disappeared, revealing the path towards the mountain’s peak, Skinny Bro had surrendered. Although he looked like an idiot, he was not actually one. There was absolutely no room to even consider fighting when his opponent was one of the Daosource Three Skies. Fat Bro had also immediately admitted defeat when he had been matched up against Wu Taibai.
For the moment, Lu Yin could not afford to shift his attention anywhere else, as Liu Tianmu had already drawn her sword.
The screens across the universe were split into ten sections, and one of those sections was focused on the fight between Lu Yin and Liu Tianmu.
When Liu Tianmu drew her sword, at least half the population of the entire universe shifted their gaze and watched her.
Liu Tianmu, an inheritor of the Thirteen Swords and the strongest heir of the Sword Sect, was also rumored to be one of the most formidable members of the Ten Arbiters. Her making a move not only shocked the Innerverse and Outerverse, but also the Astral Beast Domain, the Technocracy, and even the Sixth Mainland.
Additionally, innumerable viewers from the Neoverse were closely watching her every action. After all, she was the only powerhouse who had managed to injure Shang Qing during the battle in the Mountain and Seas Zone.
However, Lu Yin had built up an even greater reputation for himself, as his fight with Yuhua Mavis had pushed him to an even higher level.
As far as many were concerned, Lu Yin was already one of the true top powerhouses. If another forecast of the top ten was arranged, then Lu Yin would definitely be listed within the top six.
A battle between Lu Yin and Liu Tianmu. The former represented the Outerverse’s Great Eastern Alliance while the latter represented the Innerverse’s Sword Sect. Their fight was truly symbolic of the rivalry between the Great Eastern Alliance and the various major powers of the Innerverse.
Almost everyone from the Innerverse was intently watching this particular battle.
More than half of the people competing to enter the peak of Zenith Mountain were also staring at the two.
“This is not the first time that you’ve faced the Thirteen Swords, but my version of the Thirteen Swords is different from Shaoqiu’s.” Liu Tianmu then raised her sword while looking straight at Lu Yin. Her sword shone clear, and its light illuminated the mountain peak.
Lu Yin looked up and replied, “I know. The Thirteen Swords may be one skill, but it differs depending on the individual.”
Liu Tianmu tightly clenched the hilt of her sword. “In the past, I watched when you participated in the Tournament of the Strongest, but you’re already standing right before me now. Be careful, as here comes the Thirteen Swords’ First Sword.”
The moment the last word left her lips, her sword slashed down at a diagonal angle. The Thirteen Swords’ First Sword could intimidate even ghosts and spirits with just one attack.
This familiar scene seemed to take Lu Yin back in time to when he had still been at the Astral Combat Tournament, which was where he had first encountered Liu Shaoqiu and the Thirteen Swords. It had been a long time since Lu Yin had felt this excited where his entire being was vibrating, down to his cells.
Yuhua Mavis had made him experience the sensation of a draining power while Liu Tianmu gave Lu Yin a sense of a fierce danger. This was a very comforting feeling to him.
Clang!
A deafening noise was heard, and a shockwave spread out throughout the battlefield, tearing the void apart as a deafening howl entered everyone’s ears. Liu Tianmu’s First Sword had been flicked aside by Lu Yin’s middle finger. Right after that, her domain shot past him, and a shrill noise was heard from above as she released the Second Sword.
Lu Yin flicked this attack away as well, stating, “It’s pointless.”
As he spoke, he raised a hand and lightly tapped out with yet another finger. This released an immense amount of force and a shockwave that tore back through the void. This violent shockwave was headed straight at Liu Tianmu.
Liu Tianmu slashed her sword sideways to redirect the shockwave before her domain suddenly shrank down. The swordsman as one with the sword, the sword as one with domain, the swordsman as one with domain, and finally, the swordsman, sword, and domain all as one.
This was the Fifth Sword.
Like a sword that had been summoned from beyond the heavens, this blade instantly teleported right in front of Lu Yin. He could only see a single longsword, and the tip of this blade became the center of attention for the entire audience.
The Thirteen Swords was not something that an average person could witness throughout their entire lifetime.
At that moment, the veil of mystery that shrouded the Thirteen Swords had finally been pulled back before the entire universe.
The only way that one could truly understand just how incredibly terrifying the Fifth Sword was was to be personally attacked by the sword.
Some distance away, Yao Xuan, Shang Qing, and Bu Kong all stepped forth to observe this battle.
The corners of Lu Yin’s lips curled up. “Now this is more interesting.”
As he spoke, he unsealed the fatesand within his body and released a large portion of his physical strength. Just like before, he gently tapped at the approaching sword with a single finger, but this time, the sword tip bent from the impact. Lu Yin then opened his palm and proceeded to slash at Liu Tianmu by using his hand as a blade.
This time, the power of Lu Yin’s attack was certainly not inferior to the second punch that he had thrown against Yuhua Mavis. She had been able to block that punch, which had been thrown with Lu Yin’s entire body and physical strength. However, Liu Tianmu was different, and she certainly would not be able to defend herself against this attack.
However, the Thirteen Swords was not just an offensive technique.
The Sixth Sword was a defensive sword stance.
The side of Lu Yin’s palm had struck out, but it did not actually reach Liu Tianmu. His attack was perfectly countered by her Sixth Sword, but even though she had saved herself from being directly struck, Liu Tianmu was still sent flying by the enormous force behind Lu Yin’s attack.
He clenched a fist and threw another powerful punch into the air, crushing the void and leaving behind black spatial cracks. The vibrations shaking the air had even started affecting the other participants, causing them to feel suffocated and have some difficulties breathing. The force of this punch was comparable to the third punch that he had launched at Yuhua Mavis.
Liu Tianmu forced her body to the side, rotating the sword as she moved. Its blade reflected rays of light that lit up everyone nearby, and it even shone upon the statue at the top of Zenith Mountain. The light was so bright that it blurred the images on the screens.
Tenth Sword: Star Slayer.
Speckles of starlight decorated the battleground as Liu Tianmu’s sword qi rose exponentially. It felt like an eternity; the Tenth Sword was beautiful and ethereal, but also deadly.
Lu Yin’s punch was forcibly dissipated by the sword qi, and the Cutting Star streaked towards Lu Yin while shredding the void.
Nine lined battle force, represented by purple-red lines covering Lu Yin’s entire body, surged forth as he threw out another powerful punch. This attack eliminated the Cutting Star and still had leftover power that coursed through the air towards Liu Tianmu.
Liu Tianmu looked calm, and she swirled her sword once more. “Eleventh Sword: Core Splitter.”
Across from her, Lu Yin’s face twitched slightly. He had witnessed the Eleventh Sword before when Yōu Qi had used the power of someone named Liu Guai to attack Lu Yin with the Eleventh Sword. Back then, against the Eleventh Sword, Lu Yin had only been able to dodge aside with all his power, and even that had only been possible with a secret technique. He would have been done for if he had been even a moment late in fleeing.
Lan Si himself had been taken down by the Eleventh Sword as well.
Lu Yin was facing the Eleventh Sword once again, but he was still unable to see through it and counter it. Still, everything would be fine, as he did not believe that the Eleventh Sword could overpower him.
Core Splitter swept through the air, bypassing the concept of distance to appear right in front of Lu Yin. He frowned; the Eleventh Sword had actually managed to ignore the pressure from his fists; just where had this attack come from?
